Tension device



Patentetl- Jan. 29, 1929.

:GUSTAF s; BECKMAN, or CB-ANS'ION, RHODE IsLANn'AssrsiioRro unrvnnsar. WIND- me COMPANY, or BOSTON, mnssnoiiusnr'rsn CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS,

TENSION DEVICE.

Application filed October 11,

This invention relates to improvements in tension-devices for use with winding machines and other textile apparatus.

One object of the invention is to provide a the collection of lint, fluff, motes and other impurities thrown off from the yarn or thread and liable to clog its operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tension-device of simple construction having a minimum number of parts and one which is more durable in use and more efl icient for the purpose intended.

Another obj cct of the mvention is to provide a tension-device in which the parts may be constructed of sheet-metal to'render them light in weight and economical to manufacture. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined tension-device and slugcatcher or yarncleaner for clearing the strand of slugs, bunches, motes or the like adhering to the yarn.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention'as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved ten sion-device shownas attached to its supporting bracket; v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig.3 is an end elevation looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4; is a sectionalelevation of the device taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and *Fig. 5 is a sectional detailed View taken on line 55 of Fig. 4c. a

The present improved tension-device is adapted for use particularly with windings or like machines in which the strand of yarn, thread or other attenuated material is drawn off from a cop, bobbin or other source of supply and fed to the machine to be taken up by the winding or other process. The tensiondevice may be mounted on any suitable support and as herein illustrated is attached to an arm or bracket 2 which is adapted to be 1926. Serial no. 140,977.

fastened to the frame of the winding machine or otherapparatus. As before indicated, the present improved tension-device is constructed principally of sheet-metal stampings and comprises in general a flat base-plate 3 hav- 1ng a V-shaped contour inplan view with two tapering prongs or horns 4: and 5 diverging from a narrow slit or threadway 6 at its con-- tea". The base-plate 3 is folded or bentldownwardly at its rearward side to provide avertical flange or lip 7 which .is adapted to be received within a slot 8 milled through an up standing lug or post 9 on'thebracket 2. A screw 10; threaded through a lateral hole in the lug or post 9 with its head countersunk into one side thereof, passes through a hole in; the flange 7 to secure the base-plate 3, in position on the bracket. A portion of the flange 7 is sheared'away at 11' and bent around in an arm 12 whichis provided with a slot 13 at its end forming an elbowli kehook 14, see Fig. 5. The arm 12 serves as the means of support for a tension-lever 15 to be later described.

Overlying the top of the prong 4: on the base-plate 3 is a plate 24 shaped to the general contour thereof and extending rearwardly beyond the flange 7 in arectangular portion 25. The forward edge 26 of'the top plate 24 extends diagonallyback from theslit or threadway 6 to adapt it to function as a guiding face, for directing the strand" into the threadway 6 and through the tension-device in the manner as hereinaftermore particu-t larly explained. The'forwardpart of this diagonal portion of the plate'2t'is curved or conve-Xed upwardly at,2? to provide an entrance for the strandint'o the threadway 6, it being noted that the'top plate 2 4 is secured to the top of the base-plate 3 by means of rivets 28 and 29 shown in'Figs. '1 and 3.

Therea-rward rectangular portion 25 of the top plate'2t is formed with a lateral slit I or opening 30 and a'portion of the stock. of the plate is bent downwardly along its inner edge to form a Vertical flange 31 Abutting the. side of the flange 31 is a slug-catcher member 33 comprising an arm 3'bent around at its end to'form a right angled blade 35. The arm 34L is pivotally mounted at its end on a pin 36 projecting from the side of theflange '31. A screw 37 inserted through a washer 38projeots through-an enlarged hole/39 at the outer end of the arm 34: and is screwed into the side of the flange31. This means for loo '7 mounting the slug-catcher member 33 proany of the vides for adjustment of its blade 35 with re spect to the under side of the top-plate 24 to set the blade with an opening betweenits upper'working edge and the bottom of the plate. By loosening the screw 37 the blade may be set at different distances away from the plate 24 to provide a slit oropening of the proper width to accommodate the strand drawing therethrough in accordance with the size or thickness of the yarn. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings-that the outer end of the slug-catcher blade 35 is beveled off or inclined at 40 to adapt the strand to draw thereacross to lead itinto the slit or opening 41 above the upper edge of the blade. It is also to be observed that the base plate 3jis formed with a rearwardly extending StIf113-0P21T111 42, see Fig, 1, which reaches back nearly'to the blade 35 and has a finger 43at itsend projecting inwardly in parallel relation with theblade. The arm 42 is offset or depressed below the lower face of the top-plate 24, see F ig; 2, to provide a clearance forthe strandas it draws beneath the edge 26. The purposeof this arm 42'isto guide the strand into the slug-catcher and to prevent it from looping or catching-around parts arranged: beneath the baseplate 3. I

, "Thetension-lever'15, previously referred to, consists of a sheet-metal stamping .constructed with an inclined arm 16, an ofi'set horizontal arm-17 and a vertical prong or pin 18. The main. arm 16 of thelever 15 is provided with a slot or opening 19 of substantially triangular or wedge shape to adapt it to be-hooked into the slot .13 to reston the-hook 14 of the arm 12 as shown most clearly in Figs. I

4 and 5. The lever 15 is thus pivotally mounted without recourse to the use of pins, screws or other extraneous parts and is adapted to be applied to or removed from operative position without the use of tools. The upper portion of the arm 16 of the lever 15 carries Q i a vertical stud or-pin 20 projecting through a hole 32 in the top-plate 24 and on which is mounted a tension-disk 45. The stud 20 has an enlarged butt-end 21 which is slotted at 22 to straddlethesides of the-lever15, being pivoted thereto by means of a cross-pin 23;

The tension-disk 45 is constructed of sheetmetal stamped or punched to generally concave-convex shape in cross-section as illustrated in Fig. 4. The upper convex surface of'th'e disk is adapted to bear against the underside of the top-plate 24*with its rinrflaring away therefrom to provide a free entrance for thestrand to thread it into place therebetween; Beenath the disk 45 is a relatively, lighth-eli'cal spring 46 surrounding the studorrpin 20 and tending to maintain the disk bearing against the top-plate 24 in the mannerand for the purpose as hereinafter more fully explained. The upright prong or pin 18 on the arm 17 of the lever 15 is adapted to receive one or a plurality of disk-shaped tension-weights 47 which tend to rock the lever to apply pressure through the spring 46 to maintain the tension-disk bearing against the under side of the top-plate 24, a greater or less number of weights being employed in accordance with the degree of tension to be applied to the strand drawing through the tension-device. I

Having now described a preferred form of construction of the invention itsmethod of operation will next be explained. In threadj which the yarn is to deliver and fastened to the winding spindle or other take-up means. As the winding spindle starts to rotate it will draw the strand throughthe crotch between the prongs 4 and 5 to cause it to enter the treadwayfi while drawing in un'der the edge 26 of the top-plate 24. The strand g -is thus directed in under the top-plate 24 so that it will be drawn into place between the bottom face of said plate and the convex surface of the'tension-disk 45 and also into position in the opening 41 above the slug-catcher blade 35. The yarn is thus automatically threaded into place as indicated by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1 to draw from the threadway 6. through the tension-device and slug-catcher as it feeds to the winding or other machine. Asthe strand 3 feeds through the tensiondevice in this manner the pressure ofthe weights '47 willcau'se the tension-disk 45' to bear against it on the underside of the topplate 24 with a yielding pressure as exerted by the spring 46; thepurpose of the spring being to provide a buffer or shock-absorber which allows the disk to yield or move away from the plate'24 when -knots or-other enlargementson the strand pass through the device so asnot to disturb the inertia of the lever 15'and itsweights- 47. In this way a v more constant and uniform tension is applied to the yarn without fluctuations dueto sudden release of the pressurewhen abnormalities on the yarn are encountered, suchas knots, bunches, slugs or'the like.

It will be observed from the above that my insure that the strand of yarn','thread or other filament shall invariably be correctly insert- I ed into position for proper functioning of the devices. The improved tension-device also I impurities thrown off from the yarn. That is to say, all lint, fluff, dirt, specks or the like issuing from the rim of the tension-disk as the yarn feeds therethrough will be thrown off and dropped down below*without gathering on any of the parts, the under side'of the disk being unsupported except at its axis. If the device requires cleaning after long periods of use access to the tension-disk is made convenient by simply unhooking the tension-lever and withdrawing the ten sion-pin'or stud from the hole'in the topplate 24:. "Likewise, the replacing of the tension-diskand its pressure lever in operative position is 1 equally convenient, no screwdriver, wrench or other tools being required.

'While I have herein illustrated a preferred I embodiment'of the device it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 1

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: I

1. A tension-device comprising a stationary element across which the-strand draws and provided with an opening, a pin projecting through the opening at substantially right-angles to the under'face of said element, a support for said pin, a tension-disk mounted on said pin beneath saidelement, and means for pressing said disk against the element to apply resistance to the draft of the strand passing therebetween.

2. A tension-device comprising a stationary plate across the under side of which the strand draws and provided with an opening, a vertical pin projecting upwardly through the opening at substantially right-angles to said plate, a support for said pin, a tension disk on said pin,

I resilient means for holding the tension-disk against the under side of the plate, and means for applying pressure to the resilient means to cause the tension-disk to bear against the strand to apply resistance to its draft.

3. In a tension-device, the combination of a stationary member across the'under side of which the strand draws, said member providedwith an opening, a pivoted lever, a pin carried by said lever and .slidable through the opening in the member,

a tension-disk mounted on said pin to adapt it to bear against the under side of the member, and a weight for rocking said lever to cause the disk'to bearagainst the strand to apply resistance to its draft.

4:."In'a tension-device, thecombination of a stationary plate provided with an opening,

a lever pivoted below the plate, a pin carried by the lever and slidable through the opening in the plate, a tension-disk mounted on said pin in position .to bear against the under side of the plate, and lever tending to rock thelatter to apply pres sure tothe disk to caus-e'it to resist the draft of the strand drawing betweenthe plate and the disk. i F f 5. In a-tension-device, the combination of a tension-member across which the yarn draws, said member provided with an opening, a lever pivoted beneath said member, a

a Weight on thepin at one end of the lever arranged to slide I through theopening in a tension-disk mounted on said pm, a spring on the pin arranged beneath the tension-disk,

and means tending to rock the lever to apply pressure through the springto cause the disk to bear against the'strand to resist its draft to apply tension thereto. i

6. Ina tension-device, the combination of a stationary plate provided with an opening, a lever pivoted below the plate, a'pin carried by said lever and slidable through the opening in the plate, a tension-disk mounted on said pin, a helical spring coiled around the pin and bearing on the underside-of the tension-disk, and weights on the lever acting to rock'the latter to apply pressure through the tension-member,

the spring to cause the disk to bear against the strand to apply tension thereto.

1 7 In a tension-device, the combination-of astationary plate providedwith an opening, a hook beneath said plate, a lever formed within opening to adapt it to be pivotally sus-- pended on the hook, apin carried by said lever and projectingthrough the opening in the plate, a tension-disk mounted on the pin toadapt it to bear against the under side of the plate, and means for rocking the lever to apply pressure to the disk to adapt it to bear against the strand.

8. In a tension-device, the combination of a base-plate provided with a threadway for the strand, atop-plate overlying the threadway in the base-plate and provided with an opening, a pin projecting through said opening, a tension-disk mounted on said pin to bear against the underside of the top-plate,

and means acting against the disk to cause it i to bear against the strand drawing between the disk and the top-plate to apply resistance to its draft. i p 7 9. In a tension-device, the combination of a base-plate having a threadway with prongs diverging outwardly therefrom, a. top-plate overlying the threadway in the base-plate and arched upwardly therefrom, a tension disk arranged to bear against the underside ofithe top-plate, and means for applying pressure to thetension -disk'to adapt it'to 'bear against the strand drawing between the diskxand the top-plate'to cause resistance to its draft. I

10. In a tension-device, the combination' of a base-plate formed'with a threadway for the strand and provided with a depending flange having an integral offset/arm with ahook at its end,'a top-plate overlying the bases plate and provided with an opening, a lever rockably suspended 'on the'hook on the arm of the base-plate, a pin carried by said lever and arranged to project through the opening in the top-plate, a tension-diskmountrd on'the pin and adapted to bear against the under side of the top-plate, and means to'rock the lever to applypressure to the tensiondisk to causeitto bear against the strand passing between the disk and the top-platetocause resistance to its draft.

11. In a tension-device, the combination of a base-plate provided with a threadway, a top-plate secured inoverlying relation with respect to the base-plate and extending rearwardly therefrom' with a depending flange at its side, a slug-catcher member adjustable on thefiange of the top-plate and provided with a blade adapted to beset inspacedzrelation with respect to the under side of the topplate, a tension-disk adapted to bear against the underside of the top-plate, and means to ap'plypressure to said disk to adapt it to resist the passage of the strand between the disk and the top-plate as it draws through the slug-catcher;

12. In a tension-device, the combination of a slotted bracket; abase-plate formed with a threadwayfor the strand and provided with a-depending flange adapted to be held'in the slot of the bracket, a topplate fastened to'the top ofthe-base-plate and having a portion arched above I the threadway, and tensionmeans adapted to -bear against the strand as it draws through the threadwayj *and across the under sideof thetop-plate. i

13; In a tension-device,thecombination of above its threadway with-one of -its edges inclined rearwardlytherefrom, and a tension-disk adapted tobear against theunder side of the top-plate to apply resistance to the draft of the strand drawing through the threadway and beneaththetop-plate.

15. In a tension-device, the combinati on of a base-plate provided withia'threadway,with

prongs diverging outwardly therefrom, a top-plate overlying the baseplate with its forward portion arched abovethe threadway therein, said topJ-plate formed with an in clined edge: leading rearwardly. from v thethreadway. and raised above the base-plate, and tension-means cooperating withthe rearward portion of the top-plate to apply resistance to the draft of the yarn, said top,- plate arranged with its-inclined vedge adapt ed to direct the strand into the tension-device as it draws rearwardly fromthe threadway in the baseplate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiizi my signature;

GUSTAFSBEGKMAN, 

